Local bicyclists race in unusual event in Topeka

Thursday

Nov 14, 2013 at 6:02 PM

Submitted by Brendan Sheehan

On Saturday afternoon, we drove to Heartland Park in Topeka for the Heartland Park Grand Prix Cyclo Cross Race.
This race is an annual event put on by Jeff Unruh from the Sunflower State Games.
This is truly a unique event. A bicycle race at an auto race track. The track is not cement, but dirt.
The entire route was illuminated for a nighttime race. The course was fast, but challenging.
Riders rode the track to the infield. Multiple turns in the infield were followed back to the track and around the perimeter of the stands.
One run up was so extreme that many of the racers were forced to walk it.
The course included two sets of stairs the riders had to dismount and run. It also included a set of barriers. This was a carnival atmosphere.
Francis Sheehan raced juniors placing fourth. Brendan Sheehan raced masters 40+ taking 18th.
Gene Lamb raced men's category 4 placing 19th. Great job by all who raced. The next race we will go to is the Lost Trail Cross in Louisburg, Kan. in two weeks.

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